A closer look

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Under the banner of slowing development, an eclectic

group of residents came together and drafted a measure that could have

dramatic effects on the future of this city.

On the surface, the group -- which includes a computer designer, an

environmentalist, a former mayor, a Realtor and a consultant -- appears

mismatched.

Allan Beek looks like a cleanshaven Abraham Lincoln, Jean Watt a kindly

aunt, Evelyn Hart a sparkly-eyed Puck, Tom Hyans an ex-football player

and Phil Arst a brooding wizard.

“We don’t always agree in the end,” Hyans said of the group. “We’re

intelligent people who have [our] own opinions about how things ought to

be done.”

Opponents of the measure, however, have argued that some of the

movement’s leaders are motivated by politics more than the environment.

Greenlight critics also say supporters are hypocritical for wanting voter

approval for projects in Newport Beach, but not for the proposed airport

at the closed El Toro Marine base. Finally, opponents point out that two

of Greenlight’s leaders -- former council members Watt and Hart --

actually approved many of the developments, which the group is blaming

for the city’s traffic woes.

Nevertheless, the formidable five have drafted a measure hailed by many,

but called draconian by others.

The half-page initiative was sold to local voters last fall as a solution

to traffic problems. It would simply tack on a extra step to the planning

process by giving residents the final say on major developments, said

supporters.

But since then, the debate over the initiative has grown and some say it

threatens to undermine the very foundation of local representative

government.

Some city officials predict that, if the measure passes, residents in

their fervor to stop traffic increases will deny any development. And

this could strangle the city’s revenue stream and cut services, which

residents depend on, such as fire and police protection.

The Protect From Traffic and Density Initiative proposes to let residents

vote on developments, which require a “major” general plan amendment.

“Major” is defined as creating more than 100 peak-hour car trips, more

than 100 homes or more than 40,000 square feet of floor area over what

the city’s general plan allows.

However, because of the wording of the initiative, residents could end up

voting on more than what was originally intended.

ALLAN BEEK

Drawing from his background as a Cal Tech physics major and as a Newport

Beach Planning Commissioner, Beek was the main architect of the measure.

Combining this with a family legacy steeped in local Balboa history, Beek

said he is simply helping to salvage residents’ quality of life.

Beek is also the only person so far who has gone through the last decade

of city development to see which of Newport’s 49 different communities

are built out and would require an amendment.

Along with Jean Watt, Beek began thinking about creating the measure as

far back as 1993. The initiative grew from a concern that the city’s

traffic ordinance -- still one of the strictest in the county -- was

being gutted. The ordinance was created three decades ago to slow the

increasing traffic by limiting certain developments.

JEAN WATT

Watt, a longtime environmental activist and former city council member,

moved to Newport Beach in 1953. Before this, during World War II the

Stanford economic graduate worked as a nurse.

It wasn’t until 1974, after her children grew up, that Watt became

politically active. She formed Stop Polluting Our Newport, which

eventually led to her becoming involved in creating the city’s traffic

ordinance and to Greenlight.

She served on the City Council from 1988 to 1996 as a slow-growth

advocate. Despite her service however, Watt disagrees with recent

arguments by city officials that the measure brings into question and

undermines representative government. Watt believes that if the measure

had landed on her plate when she was a city council member, she would’ve

supported it.

“I don’t know what it is about legislators,” Watt said. “They tend to be

defensive and they shouldn’t be. They should jump right in and say

‘you’re my constituent -- if this is what you want, I support it.”’

EVELYN HART

A former mayor and another councilwoman, Hart was more of a moderate than

Watt in terms of development issues. During her nearly five decades as a

Newport resident, Hart has been heavily involved in the community.

Among a litany of organizations, she was President of the League of

Cities, Vice President of the Orange County Sanitation District, Chairman

of the Local Agency Formation Commission and was on the board of a number

of nonprofits.

In terms of the city’s future, Hart said she’s concerned about

maintaining open-space and controlling traffic. Having dealt with the

city’s budget, Hart said she’s not worried about the possibility of

Greenlight cutting Newport’s revenue stream. On the current general plan

some development still awaits Newport, which is one of the wealthiest

cities in the county.

Still, current council members argue the good financial times may not

continue if Newport can’t remain competitive. Also if developments go to

other cities, Newport will still be stuck with commuter traffic.

TOM HYANS

Hyans is a familiar face at both Planning Commission and City Council

meetings. Described by some as a gadfly and others as a watchdog, the USC

engineering graduate said he is deeply suspicious of city government and

watches city officials closely.

Like the other Greenlight members, Hyans has also lived in Newport for

decades. And like them, the Realtor said he’s also seen how the city has

changed through the years, becoming more developed and more congested.

“[The Greenlight members] all kind of drifted together with a common

cause,” Hyans said.

Hyans believes that the general plan is a commitment and that if the City

Council would like to change it, then residents should have a say in

whether they agree.

PHIL ARST

Arst, the group’s spokesman, worked in the high-tech industry for 30

years and then as a consultant in business planning. Born in Chicago,

after completing an engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an

MBA from the University of Chicago, Arst moved to Newport in 1959.

He became involved in local politics about two decades ago when his

neighborhood was threatened by a major development just next door. A

self-described residentialist, Arst is single-minded in his drive to get

this measure passed.

Like Beek and Watt, Arst was also very involved in the traffic ordinance.

And when it was “gutted,” like the others, he also began to consider

coming back at the problem with another solution. The solution, he

believes is Greenlight.

“Greenlight is the best way to preserve the quality of life,” he said.